The history of hockey’s playoff beard

Blues fans don’t fret over the fact that they lost game one of their first round playoff series to the San Jose Sharks. There is plenty of hockey left and plenty of time for you to show unity with your team and grow a beard.

What is it about the beard that has become so popular in hockey? You’ll be surprised to know the superstition hasn’t been around that long. Before we get to the history, I’ll pass along a link from NHL.com and their promotion called Beard-A-Thon which helps raise money for Blues charities.

The tradition of players growing beards started back in 1980 when the New York Islanders went on their string of four straight Stanley Cup championships. The tradition died off until the New Jersey resurrected it in 1995 and won the Stanley Cup. Since then, every post season, 16 teams grow beards and will not touch them until they are eliminated from the playoffs or get to hold Lord Stanley’s Cup.

There are a few of us here at Missourinet and our parent company headquarters of Learfield Sports who are hockey fans and we’ve started growing our beards from our hometown. If you are a diehard hockey fan, send along your playoff beard pics to us on our Facebook page.